The Pope on carrying forward the renewal started by the Second Vatican Council
May the Olympics be a chance for peace in a world scarred by hatred.
Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) Before and after the Sunday Angelus Pope John Paul II spoke of the coming Olympic Games as a chance for peace in a world troubled and sometimes traumatised by all sorts of hatred and violence. He paid tribute to Pope Paul VI and referred to his predecessor's first Encyclical and how it advances the true renewal of the Church that the Second Vatican Council had begun. The Pontiff also mentioned his pilgrimage to Lourdes on August 14 and 15.
An energetic Pope joined a multilingual crowd in the courtyard of the Pontifical residence of Castel Gandolfo. Smiling and waving to those present, the Holy Father shared in the festive mood as a chorus of voices in Spanish, English and Italian mingled trying to outdo each other to express their warmest greetings. An orchestra from Canada roused the 3,000 or so faithful to a final applause.
"Two day ago, on the Feast of the Transfiguration," said the Pope, "we commemorated the passing of God's Servant Paul VI. This anniversary has taken on a special meaning because 40 years ago, on August 6, 1964, my venerable predecessor released his first Encyclical Ecclesiam suam, an unforgettable document in which, from the beginning, he declared his passionate love for the Church, called upon as she is to reflect the glorious light of the face of Christ. In it, he laid down some clear "paths for the Church", namely the search for self-consciousness, renewal, and dialogue."
"The Church," Paul VI wrote, "is more alive today than ever before. Yet, it seems that everything must still be done, that today our never ending task begins anew. Such words are as relevant today as in yester years and cannot but encourage believers to deliberately carry on the process of true renewal of the Church started with the Second Vatican Council."
"In a few days," the Pontiff added, "Athens will host the 28th edition of the Olympic Games. It is a pleasure for me to send my most cordial greetings to the official delegations, the representatives of the world's nations, the thousands of athletes and all the other participants who will take part in the Games."
"I especially wish to extend my warmest salute to the city of Athens. I remember the friendly welcome of the people of Greece when I went on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul."
"In a world troubled and sometimes traumatised by so many kinds of hatred ad violence, let sports provide the opportunity for dispassionate exchange and may they promote understanding and peace among its peoples.
"I call upon the Most Holy Virgin to extend her maternal protection to the Olympics and the sports world."
John Paul II also urged Mary to protect "the pilgrimage I shall be making, God willing, to the Lourdes Sanctuary next Saturday and Sunday where I shall celebrate her Assumption and commemorate the 150th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception."
The Holy Father spoke again of his journey to Lourdes but this time in French talking directly to those pilgrims present in the courtyard from France.
As he is wont to do, John Paul greeted Italian-speaking pilgrims last, singling out "the group from the parish of San Martino in Vigodarzere (Padua province) and a few mothers who had rejected abortion, their children, and the overseers of the 'Opera Mater Dei' community in Castel Gandolfo, who accompanied them."
The Pope concluded the Angelus wishing all a "Good Sunday."
.png)
